Parental Control Software for your kids computers??????

[Stormchaser]

So anyone have any recommendations?? All my 4 kids have devices and love spending time on our computers as well. I'd love to get something that monitors our Apple products and something that can integrate with the android devices they have.

The software would be useful to control time limits and protect them from websites I deem inappropriate.

I've looked at the usual suspects and they seem fine but if you have any experience using them i'd love to know. I'll gladly pay for something that works well! Any advice??

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by stormchaser

So anyone have any recommendations?? All my 4 kids have devices and love spending time on our computers as well. I'd love to get something that monitors our Apple products and something that can integrate with the android devices they have.

The software would be useful to control time limits and protect them from websites I deem inappropriate.

I've looked at the usual suspects and they seem fine but if you have any experience using them i'd love to know. I'll gladly pay for something that works well! Any advice??

Some of these controls can be achieved through your router settings - like websites and internet scheduling. On the Apple products you can set up parental controls so they can't download apps or anything with your permission. Not sure about the Android side of things. These aren't really products though, they just exist already and have to be used.

How old are the kids, by the way?

[photon]

iOS is tough, I jailbroke my kid's iPad and found an app that keeps track of what apps are running for how long, which was a decent balance between the restricted level of guided access and wide open. Trust but verify. But it would be nice if Apple had some better features or allowed apps to do more.

I used that in combination with OpenDNS which lets you control what sites they can see and such. A bit more flexible than the router route as it doesn't depend on going through the home network.

I've also been playing a bit with this: https://www.qustodio.com/en/?x

Only been using it on the PC but it seems to work pretty well, alerts when they go to a restricted site which is nice, can set different levels for different kids, set time limits, and gives a nice view of what they've been doing.

[Stormchaser]

Originally Posted by photon

iOS is tough, I jailbroke my kid's iPad and found an app that keeps track of what apps are running for how long, which was a decent balance between the restricted level of guided access and wide open. Trust but verify. But it would be nice if Apple had some better features or allowed apps to do more.

I used that in combination with OpenDNS which lets you control what sites they can see and such. A bit more flexible than the router route as it doesn't depend on going through the home network.

I've also been playing a bit with this: https://www.qustodio.com/en/?x

Only been using it on the PC but it seems to work pretty well, alerts when they go to a restricted site which is nice, can set different levels for different kids, set time limits, and gives a nice view of what they've been doing.

Thats more what I need...something built for me already and easy to control. I'd hate to go into my router settings and manually put in all the restrictions. Looks like I'd need to purchase the premium package.

Anyone use Netnanny?

[Northendzone]

As an aside, my daughter made a mess of our new computer by wildly clicking on links of cat videos......had to take the computer back to geek squad to get it all cleaned up.

They set up a user id for her that is supposed to prevent her from downloading crap.

[Flabbibulin]

If you are talking about OS X, then you can set up parental controls via an adminstristrator account (and making your kids accounts managed)- it is not the greatest solution imo, but can restrict certain types of websites, limit the hours the computer can be used etc- and it is already built into the OS. For iOS, you can simply download Apple configurator from the App store (to an OS X device) and then install configuration profiles onto the iOS device with the same types of restrictions. Cant speak to managing android devices in this manner.

Apple Remote Desktop is also useful for monitoring what the kids are doing in real time- but I believe it only works in OS X.

As mentioned, there are likely some filtering options in your wireless router. And of course, there are a large number of software based web filters out there for restricting certain sites and web apps on your home network. I work only with hardware solutions, so not too familiar with the best software solutions, but I know there are some.

The issue northendzone faced, assuming os x, was likely an adware/web browser extensions issue- pretty common problem right now with OS X web browsers, but can be removed fairly easily with a tool like adware medic and fixing all the settings in your web browsers.

Edit- there are also some free mobile device management solutions, like Meraki and Airwatch, available on the app store. These can be used to manage your kid's iOS devices.

[AMG_G]

It is almost impossible to lock down completely. I think education is a big part of it and also keeping track of sites they visit by looking at the logs. Both my boys use my YouTube account so I know exactly what they are watching. Another big thing is to have the computer in an open area.

[rbochan]

I've been doing this for a lot of years now.
Here's what I've learned...
THE BEST "parental controls" are:
a) Keep the machine(s) in a public location and look over their shoulders often.
b) Get their asses outside to play instead.

[Stormchaser]

Originally Posted by rbochan

I've been doing this for a lot of years now.
Here's what I've learned...
THE BEST "parental controls" are:
a) Keep the machine(s) in a public location and look over their shoulders often.
b) Get their asses outside to play instead.

I hear ya, and that's exactly my line of thinking too. One thing that has surprised me is that the technology gets in their hands so much quicker. It's not just one computer, instead we have 2 MacBooks, an iMac, and 2 phones and 2 tablets. I'd love to control them all or at least the phones and tablets.

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by Northendzone

As an aside, my daughter made a mess of our new computer by wildly clicking on links of cat videos......had to take the computer back to geek squad to get it all cleaned up.

They set up a user id for her that is supposed to prevent her from downloading crap.

A few extensions that might help...

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